Tube cleaner



Jan. 10, 1928. 1,656,045

E. B. CLEMENGER TUBE CLEANER Filed Sept. 22. 1926 tijd all

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.lifutnnted dan. lll, lilith :EARL B. GLEMENGER, OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA.

TUBE CLEANER.

Application filed September 22, 1926. Serial No. 137,063.

lli/ly invention. is a tube cleaner for cleaning boiler tubes or other tubes which become encrusted internally with material.

r-ln object of my invention is the construction of a tube cleaner having a series of helically and spirally curved cutting blades mounted on a suitable bar support in which an operating handle may be connected, the blades being pressed out radially from the bar, thereby bringing a pressure against the :interior of the tube or pipe being cleaned, giving an effective scraping action in the rotation and longitudinal movement of the cleaner.

lily invention is illustrated in the following drawings, in which;

Figure l is a. side elevation of the cleaner;

liig. il is a transverse section on the line 2 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows;

3 is a transverse section of Fig. l on the line 3W?) in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. Ll is a transverse section on the line etwa; of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows.

llhe cleaner has a supporting bar l illustrated in the form of a pipe with tubular arms 2 extending outwardly from the center. Each of these tubular arms has a radial slot 3 and the plungers 4: are secured in the tubular arms by means of a pin and are pressed outwardly by springs 6 which bear against the inward end of the plungers and the base of the arms.

The cutting blades 7 are rigidly secured at their center portion 8 to the outer end ofthe plungers. These blades have a helical curve as well as being spiraled inwardly at each end so that the end portions 9 of the blades are of less diameter than the center portion 8. The blades are also preferably of greater depth at the center than at the ends. Each of the blades preferably has a cut-out section l to allow same to be pressed inwardly with the outer ends of the tubular arms extending into said cut-out parte.

fl plurality of end springs 11 formed of leaf spring material have a fixed portion l2 secured to the supporting bar adjacent each end. rlhese springs have a reverse curve 13 and the free ends of the spring at each end enten d towards the center.

The bar is provided with a soclret l at one end in which an opera-ting handle lG may be secured. The manner of operation of my cleaner is substantially as follows:

It will be understood that the cleaner will be thrust longitudinally of the boiler or other tube to be cleaned and at the same time it may be rotated. The springs in the tubular arms maintain an outward pressure on the plunger-s and hence on the cutting blades, forcing the center part of such blades into close engagement with the inner wall of the tube and with the portions adjacent thereto gradually cutting the accumulated material in the tubes before the center portion acts on such material. The device therefore gives a resilient pressure against the cloggingmaterial in the boiler or other tubes and functions to scrape the tube suf-4 ficiently clean without doing any damage to the tube.

Although my invention is of a relatively simple nature, it will be understood that it may be changed in general construction or specific details to adapt same to different styles of cleaners. Such changes would be within the spirit of my invention as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim is:

l. A tube cleaner comprisingl in combination a supporting bar having a plurality of radial arms, a blade resiliently connected and slidably mounted on each arm, each bladehaving a helical and spiral curve in opposite directions from its supporting arm, a plurality of springs connected to opposite ends of the supporting bar, each spring having a fixed portion secured to the support ing bar and extending longitudinally thereof and having a reverse curve, with part of the spring extending toward-s the said radial arms, the free ends of the spring being turned towards the ends of the said blades.

2. A tube cleaner comprising in co1nbination a supporting bar having a plurality ofI tubular arms extending radially outwardly therefrom, a plunger slidably mounted in each arm and having a spring pressing the plunger outwardly, a blade connected to each plunger, each blade being curved helieally and spirally in opposite directions from the plunger'7 mean-s to restrain the blades from rotation in reference to the arms, leaf springs secured to the supporting bar, said springs having a ixed portion secured to the supporting bar and extending longitu- 

